Rugby World Cup (RWC) is administered by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), a subsidiary of the International Rugby Board (IRB). The IRB is a non-profit making organisation. All revenue generated through its activity is placed back in the game of Rugby.

Rugby World Cup is the primary source of revenue for the funding of Rugby development worldwide. Ninety-five percent of all money distributed by the IRB worldwide for development comes from RWC revenue. These funds underpin the IRB's strategic investments programme including High Performance funding and development grants.

The first RWC was held in New Zealand and Australia in 1987. The six tournaments to date are:

How it all began

The IRB held their annual board meeting on 20-21st March 1985 at the French Railways HQ in Paris. Each member nation had a single vote and the motion was carried 6 (Australia, England, France, New Zealand, South Africa, Wales) to 2 (Ireland and Scotland). It would be staged jointly by Australia and New Zealand from the 22nd May to the 20th June 1987. This gave the two host nations approx. two years to prepare. Read the full story

It may also interest you to know that Rugby League's World Cup was first held in 1954. Read more

World Cup Finals

Venue

Participating
Countries

Result

Captain

Coach

Referee

1987 Eden Park

16

New Zealand 29
France 9

David Kirk

Brian Lochore

Kerry Fitzgerald (Aust)

1991 Twickenham

31

Australia 12
England 6

Nick
Farr-Jones

Bob Dwyer

Derek Bevan (Wales)

1995 Ellis Park

52

South Africa 15
New Zealand 12

Francois Pienaar

Kitch Christie

Ed Morrison (England)

1999 Millenium Stadium

69

Australia 35
France 12

John Eales

Rod Macqueen

Andre Watson (South Africa)

2003 Telstra Stadium

82

Australia 17
England 20

Martin Johnson

Clive Woodward

Andre Watson (South Africa)

2007 Stade de France

94

South Africa 15
England 6

John Smit

Jake White

Alain Rolland (Ireland)

2011 Eden Park

New Zealand 8
France 7

Richie McCaw

Graham Henry

Craig Joubert (RSA)

Growth of the Rugby World Cup

The IRB state that "Rugby World Cup (RWC) is now one of the the world's top three sporting competitions (the Olympics and the World Cup of Soccer being the other two)" (1).

Year

Match
Attendance

World
Television Audience

Broadcast
Territories

Total HoursBroadcast

Gross
Commercial
Income

Net Surplus

1987

600,000

300 million

17

103

£3.3 million

£1.0 million

1991

1 million

1.4 billion

103

1,100

£23.6 million

£4.1 million

1995

1.1 million

2.38 billion

124

1,180

£30.3 million

£17.6 million

1999

1.7 million

3.1 billion

209

2,425

£70 million

£47 million

2003

1.9 million

3.4 billion

193 (No Eurosport)

5,414

£81.8 million

£64.3 million

2007

2.25 million

4.2 billion

202

8,500

£122.4 million

2011

1.33 million

3.9 billion

207

Estimated £80 million net surplus boost to the Game.

Loss of NZ $31.3 million, NZ $8 million lower than forecast

The Famous Whistle

The first game of every world cup to date has been started by the same whistle. The whistle is nearly 100 years old and bears an inscription saying it was used by Gil Evans in the Test match between New Zealand and England in December 1905, a match the All Blacks won 15-0.

This piece of rugby history is also believed to have been used by Albert E. Freethy in the final of the 1924 Olympics in Paris when the United States beat hosts France 17-13 at the Colombes Stadium - the last time the sport of rugby union featured in the Games.

A year later Freethy blew the whistle to dismiss Cyril Brownlie in the Test between New Zealand and England at Twickenham in January 1925, making him the first player to be sent off in an international match.

The whistle has been housed in the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North since 16 April 1969 when they held their inaugural function, having been given by Stan Dean, who for many years was the chairman of the NZRFU and manager of the 1924/25 All Blacks.